How to Renew a Real Property Lien

A lien on a judgment debtor’s real property (home or other real estate) is put in place when a certified copy of the court’s Abstract of Judgment (Form EJ-001) is filed with the Office of the County Recorder where the property is located.

Abstracts of Judgment end after 10 years. Therefore, the lien ends in 10 years.
However, the judgment may be renewed for another 10 years, and then is renewable after that.
Once the judgment is renewed, the Notice of Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-195) can be used to renew the lien.

TIP: Renew the judgment at least six (6) months before the 10 years run out.

To Renew the Judgment -- and then Renew the Lien

Step 1. Get and fill out 2 forms:

Application for and Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-190)
Notice of Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-195)

Make at least 2 copies of these forms.

Step 2. File the 2 forms at court and pay the court’s filing fee.

The court clerk will:

Keep the original Application for and Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-190) and return the copies to you.
Complete and return to you the original Notice of Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-195) plus the copies.

Step 3. Ask the clerk for as many certified copies of the Notice of Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-195) as you need to renew in each county where you placed a lien.

Step 4. Record a certified copy of the Notice of Renewal of Judgment (Form EJ-195) with each County Recorder’s office where you recorded the Abstract of Judgment (lien). Pay the County Recorder’s office’s fee.

IMPORTANT: When you are fully paid you must remove the lien and file a Satisfaction of Judgment (Form EJ-100) with the court. See the section on Satisfaction of Judgment.

To learn how to remove liens see the section on How to a Remove Lien.

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